Spring clamp and fastener



(No Model.)

0. MQPIKE. SPRINGQLAMP AND FASTENER.

No. 437,037. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

Witness es 2/ Wfnventg:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CURTIS MOPIKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING CLAMP AND FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,037, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed February 4, 1890. Serial No. 339,195. (No model To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, (Buttons MOPIKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Spring Clamp and Fastener, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, the same forming a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to an article of manufacture; and it consists of a combined spring clamp and fastener made of a partially-convex-shaped piece or strip of metal and constructed for the purpose of holding printed matter-such as pamphlets, a collection of photographs, cards, sheets of paper, &c.securely in required position by clamping or pressing the same together, as may be deemed preferable, and allow interchanging or abstracting such matter as desired.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in perspective top view the article with a round recess in the center portion of a piece or strip of metal with pointed ends, which may be bent downward, as indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the foregoing one, showing incisions running crosswise near the ends to facilitate in bending the points. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 on line a; x, showing the concave shape of the piece or strip of metal. Fig. 4: exhibits the piece or strip of metal bent together in position for holding a number of papers, printed or otherwise, together. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are relatively the same as the foregoing Figs. 1, 2, and 3; the middle portion of a piece or strip of metal is impressed and bent outward as a substitute for the round recess. Fig.8 shows the clamp penetrating anumber of sheets of paper or cards for the purpose of fastening.

The article as exhibited in the accompanying drawings, representing a combined spring clamp and fastener, is made of a piece or strip of selected metal. The ends I) cof the said strip are pointed, and near each end is an incision d d, which enables the points to be bent downward for clamping 0r fastening divers materials when attached to the same. The middle portion of the piece or strip of metal has across its width a recess f, which may be of a circular shape, as shown in Fig. 1, or raised to form a projecting rounded rib,

as'exhibited in Fig. 5 of the drawings, for the purpose of acting as a spring to the remaining parts of the device. The remaining parts 9 71, extending on both sides of the recessed middle portion, are in their Width convex shaped, beginning from the ends I) c of the strip and flattening toward the recessed middle portion f of the same, for the object of strengthening the extending parts g h, and preventing the same from twisting and turning outward when bent down from the middle portion for clamping or fastening loose articles in their fold.

WVhen printed matter in loose sheets or pho tographs is to be held in position, the parts g h of the strip of metal are turned down close together, leading the ends I) 0 straight, and slipped in that position to clamp the same together, the recessed part f forming a receptacle, as shown in Fig. 4, into which is received the edges or top ends of the matter in contact.

In case cards or sheets of paper, &c., have to be held together the pointed ends I) c of the strip are bent down to penetrate the articles, as exhibited in Fig. 8, and which are turned inside in close parallel contact for fast ening the sheets together, but not shown in the drawings, as it is in common use for fastening.

It may be remarked hereby that in the manufacturing of the clamping device by the stamping process which the strip or piece of metal is undergoing the precise place where an incision has to be made causes the same after being bent to appear in straight lines, as shown in Fig. 1, where the ends of the parts g h are turned down and the incisions d (1' appear in straight lines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- In a spring clamp or fastener, a recessed middle portion and partially concaveshaped parts extending from said middle portion, the ends of which are pointed and may be bent, substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have'set hereunto my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CURTIS MCPIKE. 

